Family, friends, mark life of Kevin Jiang at memorial service
NEW HAVEN — For those who knew Kevin Jiang, he “radiated light and joy into the world,” Trinity Baptist Church Co-Pastor Greg Hendrickson said as many gathered Saturday for a funeral for the slain Yale graduate student.
But even amid this light, Jiang, 26, last Saturday night, “was gunned down” on the street and “the peace of a neighborhood was shattered,” Hendrickson said.
“Kevin’s life was taken from us in a moment, and our city mourned its sixth homicide in as many weeks. What do we make of this? What do we make of a human being who radiated light and joy, but whose life was snatched away on a dark night in a violent attack?” Hendrickson asked.
In his sermon, Hendrickson drew parallels between the Biblical story, including the salvation represented in Jesus Christ, and Jiang’s life, which was driven, in part, by his faith. Hendrickson spoke as family, friends and well-wishers mourned the loss and celebrated the life of Jiang, killed Feb. 6 on Lawrence Street in the city’s East Rock neighborhood.
Jiang’s mother and father described their son’s warmth, kindness, energy and faith in their remarks, offered as part of the service, which was streamed live by the church.
Jiang lived “full-heartedly, enthusiastically,” like a “ray of sunlight,” his mother, Linda Liu said. He led his friends and family to faith; he had grown as a person while serving in the military. He was a good communicator; he loved science and nature. He had taken care of her, showing his thoughtfulness, reassuring her about the future, she said.
“Kevin’s life was short but colorful, and brought so much joy, happiness and positivity to those around him,” said his mother. “As a mother, I will always miss Kevin, and treasure the blessings he brought me. Although Kevin is gone from us now, Kevin is the most wonderful gift God has ever given me on Earth. I look forward to being reunited with Kevin in heaven in the future,” she said.
His father, Mingchen Jiang, thanked people, both those they knew and those they did not, for offering their heartfelt condolences after his son’s passing. He said his son had spoken to him a lot about faith as he walked his journey in life; they grew and matured together.
“I realize, now, that Kevin himself is an angel. His mission to this world is to deliver love,” said Mingchen Jiang. “Love is the word Kevin used most often.”
Kevin Jiang’s father read a poem he wrote for his son.
“To my beloved son: as a devout Christian, you are a faithful servant of Jesus. As a mature son, you took kind care of your family. Your heart is full of love. Your smile is always warming and charming. You are naturally unguarded and honest. My dear, you said that heaven is peaceful; you wish that that will be our future home,” said his father. “Where are you in heaven now? We will look for you for the rest of our life, and will stay with you.”
Kevin Jiang’s former youth pastor in Chicago, Mark Brunke, said Jiang had changed as a young man, channeling energy that led him to try to wrestle everyone in their youth group into a “ball of joy” in adulthood.
“I think, in his teenage years, it was his encounter with the love of God that changed him,” said Brunke. “That truth — that is the truth that breathed new life into Kevin. And I know, for some hearing this, it may sound hokey, it may sound church-y, but you can’t argue with the results... I’m so grateful to have known Kevin, because I think his life was a chance for all of us to see God refresh, restore and renew someone... I’m proud of you, young man.”
Zion Perry, Jiang’s fiancée, said he had offered glimpses of his faith in unconscious aspects of life — in the peace of his face when he slept, in his music
— and his overt faith.
“Kevin would want us to cherish the gift of life we still have on Earth, and share the good news of eternal life in Christ Jesus,” said Perry. “I can’t wait to see my beloved sweetheart in his heavenly body. I will always love him, with the love of Christ.”
The Bible celebrates creation, Hendrickson noted. Kevin Jiang wanted to do his part to preserve and share it in his environmental stewardship, making sure “the world God had made” would be cared for, along with his fellow human beings, he said.
After being bullied as a youth, Jiang had found solace in the Biblical understanding of humanity, and the inherent dignity in the universality of God’s love it includes, Hendrickson said.
There is blood and murder in the Bible, Hendrickson said. It begins with the killing of Abel by Cain, where “unchecked jealousy spilled over into rage and destruction;” the text includes understanding of the commonality of sin among human beings.
He suggested that those in attendance, in considering this balance between darkness and light, take solace in the example of Jesus, the Christian savior, who, like Jiang, had his life cut short by violence.
The Biblical story may seem fanciful to some, he said. But he noted the impact it had on Jiang’s life, his works on this Earth, and the legacy he left among those that knew him.
“The light and life and joy and hope that we saw in Kevin are available to each of us from Jesus today,” said Hendrickson.
Jiang, 26, who studied at the Yale School of the Environment and lived in West Haven, was shot to death between Nicoll Street and Nash Street. He was an Army veteran and a National Guard reservist.
Police have said Jiang may have been targeted, rather than being killed in a random act.
Police are continuing to investigate Jiang’s killing, including searching for Qinxuan Pan, considered a person of interest in the case. Police have not said whether Pan and Jiang knew each other.
Pan, 29, a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was last seen in Georgia. Connecticut District Deputy U.S. Marshal Supervisor Matthew Duffy said Saturday efforts were still focused there.
Perry attended MIT as an undergraduate student, graduating in 2020 with a degree in biological engineering. She then move on to graduate school at Yale. The couple became engaged a week before Jiang’s death.